Beaufort, SC: The South’s Best Small Towns 2017

What is it about a small town that hooks us? Whether they’re waterfront or mountaintop, the great ones all have a few things in common: a thriving downtown with locally owned restaurants, shops, and galleries; a touch of the artsy; loads of character; friendly locals; and, of course, a beautiful location. Readers’ #1 pick is a picture-postcard town on the South Carolina coast. Can you guess it?

1. Beaufort, South Carolina

“Beaufort is more than a vacation spot or a photo op,” writes novelist Cassandra King. “It’s literally and figuratively halfway between Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia—not as grand as Charleston or as funky as Savannah but a homey, comfortable in between.” (FYI, it’s pronounced “BEW-fert.”)